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Ravens S Ed Reed Suspended By NFL For 1 Game

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 10: Safety Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens returns a interception for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on September 10, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) — Baltimore Ravens star safety Ed Reed was suspended for one game by the NFL on Monday for repeated hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.

The 11-year veteran will miss Sunday’s game against San Diego.

Reed is suspended for three violations of the player safety rules in the past three seasons. The latest came in Sunday night’s 13-10 victory over Pittsburgh when he was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter for a hit to the head of receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

Reed also was penalized Sept. 23 against the Patriots for unnecessary roughness and fined $21,000 for striking Deion Branch when the receiver was defenseless. Before that, Reed hit Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Dec. 19, 2010, and was fined $10,000.

“We cannot tolerate repeated violations of rules, especially rules related to player safety,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said Monday. “We will continue to take the strongest possible action to deter these types of violations and protect our players.”

Under the collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union, the suspension can be appealed within three days. An expedited hearing and decision would take place this week.

Appeals are heard by either Art Shell or Ted Cottrell, the officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association.

Reed is the second player suspended this season for violating rules designed to protect players. Denver linebacker Joe Mays was barred for one game for an illegal hit against Houston quarterback Matt Schaub on Sept. 23.